Congested roads and carnage over Easter

At least 103 people have been killed in road accidents throughout the country over the long Easter weekend, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said on Monday.

“Up to the end of Saturday night, there were 103 fatalities and 80 crashes,” said RTMC CEO Gilberto Martins.

“We don't have the full count. The final report will only be submitted tomorrow (Tuesday) and after 2pm, it will be available.”

The Department of Community Safety in Gauteng said traffic continued to peak on Monday and the freeways were congested.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) said road accidents in South Africa would continue until motorists' behaviour was addressed.

“Until a number of road safety issues have been addressed, we can expect the carnage on South African roads, specifically around holiday seasons, to continue,” said Elna Fourie, Sanral's road safety manager, in a statement on Monday.

Fourie said Sanral's planned road safety event at the University of Pretoria on Tuesday would see a number of South Africans pledging responsible behaviour.

These included not to text, drink or speed while driving.

Gauteng traffic police said the N1 south from Polokwane was already busy towards Gauteng. At the Phumalane/Carousel toll plaza, 2 600 vehicles per hour were recorded, said spokesman Obed Sibasa.

He said 500 vehicles were recorded per hour on the N1 north from Free State through Grasmere toll plaza. The N3 north from KwaZulu-Natal was busy towards Gauteng at De Hoek Plaza - 2 079 vehicles per hour were recorded.

The N12 was congested between Potchefstroom and Carltonville.

Sibasa said traffic volumes were expected to be heavy until late on Monday evening. “Preliminary statistics indicate that Gauteng's roads have already claimed eight lives since the beginning of the Easter long weekend until late yesterday (Sunday).”

He said three pedestrians, four drivers and a passenger - a four-year-old child - were killed.

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